U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday congratulated the people of Cameroon on the 53rd anniversary of the country's independence from France.
"On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the people of Cameroon and offer my best wishes as you celebrate your national day on May 20," Kerry said in a statement issued to mark the occasion.
Noting that the U.S. and Cameroon have enjoyed a positive relationship since they first established diplomatic relations in 1960, Kerry said the bilateral relationship had since developed as the two nations worked jointly to achieve their common goal of peace and stability in central Africa.
"More recently, we have joined together to combat wildlife trafficking and improve maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. The United States values its increasing economic partnership with Cameroon, which exceeded $557 million in bilateral trade in 2012. We look forward to building on this momentum," Kerry said.
Welcoming Cameroon's progress in expanding its democratic institutions, Kerry stressed that Washington sees the African nation's upcoming municipal and legislative elections as an opportunity to further consolidate democratic gains through a free and fair electoral process.
"I offer you my best wishes on the occasion of this 53rd anniversary of Cameroon's independence, and look forward to continued cooperation to promote peace, democracy, and economic growth in Cameroon and the region," Kerry said.
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